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Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings?
Would you say that rasgueados, picado and tremelo should be evenly spaced i.e. the same timing between each finger movement or stroke that makes contact with a string?
I am not talking about artistic interpretation, but rather for practise and building up strength etc.
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to Escribano)
My personal opinion: rasgueado, yes. Picado - sort of (because many people advocate varying up rhythm in the "same run" like ascending in 16ths and descending in 8ths for example). Tremolo - sort of (either you practice like Paco Pena where piami are equally spaced quintuplets, or you go like PdL where you have a bit more space between p and iami).
I suggest you practice both picado and TREMOLO (yes, tremolo) with staccato/prepared strokes.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to Escribano)
Timing yes.... Dynamics no. Some people don't realize the difference or at least don't appreciate there is a difference and it is hard to control. All techniques need to be practiced evenly with some sort of rhythmic feel if you ever want to sound clean and controlled. Playing even does not mean you maintain a single dynamic....indeed with tight rhythmic playing with little space, most of the expression is done with dynamics of loud and soft and accents.
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to Escribano)
I like to do things like practice four stroke rasgueados with an accent on every fifth stroke. Picado, do triplets and accent the downbeat. etc. That has helped me build finger strength and independence.
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to Escribano)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Escribano
Would you say that rasgueados, picado and tremelo should be evenly spaced i.e. the same timing between each finger movement or stroke that makes contact with a string?
I am not talking about artistic interpretation, but rather for practise and building up strength etc.
Yes, definitely. After I made i up and a down movement evenly spaced, my amii rasgueado already started to sound like a machine gun. Not bad for someone who's been practicing it for about 3 months. Max. 2 minutes during my practice session and I don't practice everyday. The only problem is I can't keep it sounding like a machine gun more than 4 or so seconds. I think either I don't have enough stamina in my fingers or my fingers tense up after a few seconds.
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to devilhand)
We all know that moment when maestros strum E major chord just once and still make it sound amazing. Does anyone know how to make flamenco up strumming sound like there are 2 or more guitars playing arrastre? The same question for down strumming. I mean smooth and not so fast down strumming with a full and rich sound. I hope you got the idea.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to devilhand)
quote:
ORIGINAL: devilhand
We all know that moment when maestros strum E major chord just once and still make it sound amazing. Does anyone know how to make flamenco up strumming sound like there are 2 or more guitars playing arrastre? The same question for down strumming. I mean smooth and not so fast down strumming with a full and rich sound. I hope you got the idea.
Posts: 2879
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to devilhand)
quote:
Yes, definitely. After I made i up and a down movement evenly spaced, my amii rasgueado already started to sound like a machine gun. Not bad for someone who's been practicing it for about 3 months. Max. 2 minutes during my practice session and I don't practice everyday. The only problem is I can't keep it sounding like a machine gun more than 4 or so seconds. I think either I don't have enough stamina in my fingers or my fingers tense up after a few seconds.
Good of you to reply to a question from 8 years ago!?
quote:
Does anyone know how to make flamenco up strumming sound like there are 2 or more guitars playing arrastre?
Do you mean like the classic opening F#7 sus chord in Taranta? with the arpeggios with the arrastre on the end?
quote:
The same question for down strumming. I mean smooth and not so fast down strumming with a full and rich sound.
Perhaps you mean a 5 stroke ras with thumb downstroke on the end?
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Rasgueado, picado, tremelo timings? (in reply to devilhand)
There’s about 4 various things going on. But they should be rather intuitive at your level, not mysterious. Start with dragging your thumb slow across all strings in both directions. Then try pppima down Arpegio and pull a finger alone back up. Next rasgueado slow and dirty pinky ami down, then follow through with thumb...that’s a couple tricks.
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